Milkweed for monarchs

Good to see lots of antelope horn milkweed growing in the low meadow. Terrific to see a monarch visiting many of the plants. I'm a bit confused to see these plants looking just like ones I photographed in mid-April 2011 just a bit up the hill from today's plants. Did the May floods confuse things? Do new plants appear after the occasional mowing in the meadow?

Debra at My Land Restoration Project wrote about propagating antelope horn milkweed recently, so maybe she knows if the plants start multiple times in a year.

High cuteness factor.

 

Fifteen bonus points if you spot the spider.

Depositing eggs, I hope.

A bit more than eight inches tall.

This item from The Xerces Society appeared on Facebook today:

Sometimes the hardest thing about creating a butterfly garden isn't choosing and planting flowers. Sometimes it's overcoming local rules about landscaping. In this news video, this homeowner faced fines for having plants more than 8" tall.

Many neighborhoods have rules about lawns or plants or landscaping. How many of you have had similar experiences in your own neighborhood? And how did you address concerns?

Antelope horn milkweed just make me happy because of their galactic appearance, now as in 2011 when I really needed a giggle.

© 2014-2015 Nancy L. Ruder